Go Study Global Education: How Do You Celebrate Chinese New Year in Your Hometown (25/2/2022)

 Although CNY has ended more than a week, I'm sure everyone wants to know how do we celebrate the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year around China and Southeast Asia (SEA). I came across the event on LinkedIn while I was scrolling through and signed up for the event. Then, my friend, Luna, who is one of the organisers asked me whether I would be interested to be one of the speakers. I said yes straight away! 

We had a quick rehearsal on how the event would run on that day, I tested out my presentation slides, everything was okay. Sophie recognised me, she was one of the participants from SEAGAN's networking session last year in June - "The SEA of Education". It was one of our biggest networking in history since the establishment of SEAGAN. 

The next day was the event. I was nervous yet excited because I haven't speak in front of people for a long time. First up, we have Sophie from China who showed us her family tradition. I found it we have something in similar when it comes to the Chinese New Year celebration. I do remember having congee on the 12th month in the lunar calendar. Next up, it was my turn to present how Chinese New Year is celebrated in Malaysia. 

Similar to the previous presenter, Sophie, we too also have the reunion dinner and going back to our hometown or more locally we said it balik kampung. What makes Malaysian CNY special? We have our own CNY album for every animal in the Chinese zodiac. I played Hu Hu Gongxi Bersama 虎虎恭喜 Bersama - from Astro's CNY album. The participants seemed to like it. After my presentation, we moved over to Tony, who was the next speaker after me. 

There was no Q & A session for us in the first round. We had another round of presentation to go. This time we have speakers from China, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste. Unfortunately, the Sri Lankan presenter was not available. We moved on to Noni of Timor-Leste. Although Timor-Leste does not celebrate Chinese New Year like Malaysia or China, they do have the New Year's celebration for the first day of the year. Like any New Year celebration, family reunion is one thing. 

After the two Chinese presenters, we had an Q & A session. One of the participants, Nurin from Indonesia asked me whether the toy I was holding is the official Chinese New Year mascot for Malaysia. "No, it's from one of the TV stations in Malaysia as other TV stations, they will have their own tiger mascots in conjunction with CNY," 

A couple more questions and it was a wrapped for today's Youth Talk! Thank you Go Study! Looking forward to sharing more about Malaysia in future events!

Sunway University Physical Convocation 2022 (16/2/2022)

It's graduation for the graduates at Sunway University! Last year, we were supposed to have a physical convocation but we went into Movement Control Order (MCO) 2.0 and we had virtual graduation last year in May. Whether we were to have physical graduation or not, it was yet to decide. Until the university announced that we were going to have physical graduation to make up for everything last year! 

A day before graduation, it coincided with Chap Goh Mei (the last day of Chinese New Year). I went to campus with my parents to collect the graduation gown. Before that, I went to Student Life to collect my Sunway Global Friendship Community (SGFC) active member certificate. Then, we went to the Graduate Centre to collect the graduation gown. 

Using the shortcut that I usually took to the Graduate Centre. Coincidentally, Kayla, who is one of the university's student council members, came to our attendance. She helped us with the Sunway Lagoon tickets which were required for convocation day. I went to Function Room 3 to collect the graduation gown. I saw some of my course mates were trying the gown on, I wanted to try but the people in charge told us they had given us the smallest size. Well, we just have to find out whether it could fit or not. 

I went to corners of the campus where I usually spent most of the time. Then, we headed to the college side to take a photo outside of the Monash University Foundation Year's  (MUFY) office because that was when the journey began. I even had caught up with Sharlize - a best friend of mine, who I met during our Model United Nations days and now she is my junior studying the foundation course. 

The next day was graduation day. Honestly, I couldn't get up from bed. After getting ready, it was time to head off to graduation! Unfortunately, we got lost while we were on the way because we didn't know which hotel we could stop by. In the end, we had to call my school's coordinator, Ms Kailin, to confirm the place. 

The first people I bumped into were Kavind, Joanne and her partner, Gabriel. "Wow, Kar Marn! You look nice, you're even wearing one of your favourites colours, yellow!" said Joanne. "It was intentional because the gown scarf colours are blue and orange, so I choose yellow to mix with the colours," I said. Then, I met up briefly with Chester and he introduced me to his partner, Stephanie. 

We realised that there were escalators and there were no lifts to get to the Amphitheatre. We called Kayla, and she arranged for one of the security guards to lead us to the venue. It was not just one escalator but five. After we had settled down, we had a briefing on how should we receive the scrolls when we go up on stage later on. There were some students who did the demonstration. Not to mention, my seat was just right in front of the stage. 

The procession of academics had started and the ceremony began with the national anthem - Negaraku. 

First up, the diploma students received their scrolls. For degree holders were not long after. Seeing my coursemates receiving their scrolls one by one, I was really happy for them! We are graduating together! When it was my turn, I stayed calm, "You can do this! Just take the scrolls and you're done!" 

The moment my name was called, my mind just went blank. I walked across the stage to receive my scroll from Sunway University and then my second from Lancaster University. I finally did it! I graduated from university! Next, it was a presentation for the Jeffrey Cheah Scholastic Award. Joanne is one of the recipients of the award. We had a KPI to cheer for our coursemate, that's communication for you! 

Sunway Education Group CEO, Professor Dr Elizabth Lee gave her welcoming speech to welcome the new graduates to the Sunway Alumni Community. The moment we had been waiting for was throwing the mortarboard. We have seen graduates doing this on TV, and this time we are doing it in real life. After sending off the academics, it's time for us to take pictures! There were photo booths for graduates to take photographs with our professors, lecturers, family and friends. 

We headed back to Sunway Campus to take even more pictures. This time with Sunway Buddhist Society (SBS) - which helped me to get through a tough time during my second semester in college, and I was part of the family ever since.  

Thank you to my family, lecturers, coursemates and friends who have given the biggest support throughout the journey. This is not the end but a beginning of a new journey. I have graduated for real this time and it is off to a new adventure!  Once a Sunwayian, always a Sunwayian! 

马六甲唱享6度新春面子书直播（23/1/2022)

 续了去年的《今年全Cow你》翻唱，马六甲唱享6度歌手们今年第二度送上新年歌。是什么新年歌呢？待会儿会跟大家揭晓哦！好啦，过去的文章，本网常提到唱享6度团队。那就给好好认识该团队吧！

马六甲唱享6度是马佛青旗下的佛曲歌团立于2018年，我们宗旨是以歌声传递善法，走入人心。六度是布施、持戒、精进、忍辱·、禅定和般若。也希望我们实行佛法在生活中。晚上八点，歌手们开始就位，先做个热身、彩排。晚上八时三十分，直播正式开始！

建荣学长—— 他是唱享6度的团长率先带领大家进入直播的状态。首先，我们来个自我介绍。在自我介绍的过程中，圣仁开始暴露年龄，我们接下来几个歌手打趣说：“为什么要暴露年龄？” 其实我们不是来暴露大家几岁，好戏还在后头呢！当然啦，歌手们在新年必定做的三件事。

我的就是向长辈敬茶、每一年必定到青云亭祈福、说好话。我要加的一点就是天天要说话，别等到农历新年时候才说好话。“我们发现这里有一些歌手在新年必定做的事有似曾相识。” 后来，我们播放我们翻唱版的《虎虎Gongxi Bersama》 。哇，看了觉得大家很像电视里的艺人，到场外拍摄取景MV。

可是在短短的三至四分钟的MV，背后可是有很大的付出。我记得在大二时候，老师有说过：“我们看的MV 和广告，虽然是短短几分钟，但是背后在拍摄时候可要花上一整天的时间。” 我印象最深刻就是能到马六甲八蚌佛子舍取景和歌手们一起拍MV，非常开心！还有在师父开示时候，我感觉到狗狗会到我的身边，幸好楷柔及时护着我。

另外，我们要拍淡米尔歌词的那一段，几乎我们都是笑场。幕后花絮正式首播给大家看！幸好我的麦克风是关着，几乎我快上气接不下气。看了幕后花絮的首播后，我们来做个结尾送上新年祝福。马六甲唱享6度新春直播正式圆满落幕！

大家好，我是马六甲唱享6度歌手的Katelyn 陈袈文！在此，马六甲唱享6度歌手们提早祝大家新年快乐、身体健康、学业进步、事业有成、虎虎生威！U虎加把劲，家家万事兴！

更多马六甲唱享6度的作品，可以追踪我们的官方社交平台：

Facebook：马六甲唱享6度团队

Instagram：changxiang6d

YouTube：YBAM MLK SLC 

Malaysia SDG Youth Summit (6/11/2021)

For the first time in history, Malaysia hosts its first SDG Youth Summit. I have heard and attended the Youth Summit last two months or back. It was hosted by the US, the timezone can be a little overwhelmed, with a 12 to 13 hours difference. 

How did I get to be a part of this team? As always, I was scrolling through Instagram like any other day. I saw my friend Marsya, posting that Malaysia was going to hold the first-ever SDG Youth Summit and they needed volunteers to help out with the event. Without any hesitation, I signed up for the event. On 16 October, we gathered for the first time to have a meeting. When Zoel asked who would like to be emcees for the event, I raised my hand virtually. After that, we were broken up into breakout rooms. 

The following week was to delegate which room we were going to take on as emcees. At the same time, I was in another role - proofreading for the e-program handbook. I stayed in the main room for a while before going into the emcee room. All of us have to at least attend a rehearsal before the big day. I was absent on 30 Oct, as I was attending an online Buddhism camp, I missed that out. 

Four days before the event, my emcee partner - Hanim and I started to write our emcee scripts. The next day, we had a final rehearsal. The day of the Malaysia SDG Youth Summit has arrived, everyone is dressed in their best. An hour or two before the event, we have a final briefing for the emcees. Faiq even joked that his parents thought he was going somewhere. We're all in places, off we go to our respective rooms. 

One of our speakers, Clarance from the Scout Association Malaysia dropped by our room. We did ask him anything there is needed to attend to. He says nothing is needed. After the opening ceremony, the participants started to come in. The room that Hanim and I were in was Room 9: Engaging Youth in SDGs by the Youths. With the signal from Melody, I started by welcoming all of the participants and speakers to the summit. 

The first two speakers were Theodore Clarance and Puteri Faten about localising Sustainable Development in the Malaysian Scouts community as well as Sharan and Cikgu Royson on implementing the SDGs as global citizens and in schools respectively. 

Finally, we had a special intervention from the RCE Panel. They praised us for being the first ever batch of youths for hosting the SDG Youth Summit at a national level. The good news is we are going to have another SDG Youth Summit in the first half of 2022! I hope it would be a physical event that time around. 

Thank you to everyone! Especially the emcee department, my partner for room nine, Hamim and of course the Summit Director - Ms Zoel Ng herself for leading the team. This is Kar Marn from the Malaysia SDG Youth Summit singing off!  

First Movers Workshop: Introduction to SDGs (8/10/2021-9/10/2021)

 I have been a Movers participant since May, and have been attending Movers Workshop to explore each of the SDG. Before we move further into the topic, I'll let you know what Movers is. Movers is a youth group under Youth Co: Lab and UNDP to gather like-minded from over Asia-Pacific to share on topics we are really passionate about such as mental health, climate change and education just to name a few. 

The workshops I have attended with the Movers are World We Want, Leadership, SDG 5: Gender Equality (Chinese version), SDG 13: Climate Actions and Storytelling (Chinese version). I did host one with my fellow Movers Yudhish back in August with Penggerak Belia Subang Jaya (PEBS) when talked about SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 13: Climate Actions respectively. 

This time instead of focusing on one of the 17 goals, we are focusing on all of them! I know it is going to be overwhelming for some of us but if we want to know what are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are, this is the first step to know them all. I have an amazing mentor, Kay, he is mentoring Nisha, Piashi from Bangladesh and Sagar from Nepal as well as me. 

As with any first-time hosting, a rehearsal was done to make sure everything was smooth. We did two rehearsals - one week and a day before the event. Getting people to join is one of the most challenging parts when we are hosting any virtual events. Luckily for me, I have a Movers Facebook group chat some of them I am closed to in the Movers community. I asked for their help whether they can come on board for my first-ever workshop as an Aspiring Mover. 

On the day of the event, a small number of people turn up which is expected when we are hosting any first workshop. I'm not worried about that, rather the responsiveness of the participants who attended the workshop. Luckily, Nisha and Piashi are on standby so they can jump in anytime if no one wanted to respond to any of the questions. 

After I have done presenting my first part of the introduction of the SDGs, I pass it on to Sagar who will be presenting on the second half of it. It turns out well! However, on the second day, which is on SDGs in Entrepreneurship. Again, we are under a number of people. I hop in for the first half of the session and had to leave for the second half because I'm attending another online event. 

This is the beginning of my Movers journey. I hope to host more Movers Workshops in the future! Catch up on more moving events by following our social media below: 

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MNMUN Casual Series (25/9/2021-26/9/2021)

 It is back to where my passion for Model United Nations (MUN) began - Malaysia National Model United Nations (MNMUN), we are back again after being on hiatus for a year. For the first time ever, we are going into a different approach, let's just say casually. The casual series is for newcomers and veterans in the MUN scene to have fun and chill out. 

Usually, I would be one of the delegates but this time I decide to switch my role by becoming one of the secretariats. In every pre-MUN conference whether casual or not, preparation is everything! From drafting email templates to sending out emails to preparing the rules of procedure (ROP). The deadline was super tight for the whole team, yikes! 

Since this is a casual series, the delegates don't need to prepare a position paper (PP). All they need to do is research on the topics that are given and debate on the casual series day itself. On the day of the casual series, our opening ceremony is quite chill too! With speeches from the chairs - Hoh Shan and Winnie as well as from the MNMUN secretariats, let's kick off day one of the MNMUN casual series! 

As with any MUN conference, we have implant delegates coming in to spice up debate. I'm almost forced to be an implant delegate to spice up debate but I made my decision that my last MUN, I'm just going to chill. After some consulting with the team, it is best for me to chill and relax, and standby anytime if the delegates need help with some technical issues. 

The challenge in every online conference, we will face technical issues from microphone to internet connection. Always make sure we have all working devices and check before two to three days before the conference. 

On day two and the final day of the casual series, we decide to go on crisis mode in the last session. Crisis councils are big hits in MUN conferences, they are the first ones to be fully signed up. If you're a newcomer and want to try out crisis councils, you can! It will be overwhelming! 

I can't keep my composure at one point in the conference because some of the secretariats switch their roles because they have impressive names. Not sure about my other teammates but I'm laughing inside really hard, and luckily I'm muted. 

Alas, the resolution passes! While waiting for the "news reporters" to settle the story of the crisis. The veterans give some tips and advice to the newcomers in the scene. Always do some research before the conference.  We'll be lost during the debate, but for my first ever MUN conference, I didn't talk much. More of observing and listening. 

Here are some of my personal tips for the newcomers in the MUN scene: 

1. Have the passion and have fun 
2. Listen to rule no. 1 
3. An award or not, it's all about the experience 
4. Explore MUN councils, see which fits you the best 
5. Be kind, humble and diplomatic 

Well, there we have it! One bang on the gavel and the MNMUN casual series is officially done! This marks the end of my MUN journey! When I first joined MUN, the goal was to represent Malaysia at the ECOSOC Youth Forum at the real UN one day, shining a light on mental health, fighting the rights of special needs etc. These are the goals I was aiming for when I stepped in and hoping to be heard one day. 

What is my biggest achievement in MUN? It's definitely attending the virtual ECOSOC Youth Forum in April earlier this year. With MUN, we can be involved in some NGOs. For instance, I'm currently in the Southeast Asia Global Affairs Network (SEAGAN) as well as Malaysia Youth Association for Diplomacy and Policy (MYADP). Even though I'm not in the international relations field, I can use my communication skills to spread the message. 

This is Kar Marn, secretariat team member of the MNMUN casual series, officially signing off from MUN! 

马佛青甲州联委会：线上佛青之夜 2021（25/9/2021）

 过去的佛青之夜，我会从吉隆坡回马六甲家乡到家喻户晓的文化街出席此活动。在新常态下，我们只是要一台电脑或手机，还有稳定的网络线路就可以观赏任何的直播而今年的马佛青之夜也不例外。出席马六甲武吉波浪佛学会线上中秋晚会，我又打开手机收看正在直播的佛青之夜。

如果没有疫情的话，我和马六甲唱享6度的歌手伙伴们会在场所练歌，我们或许站在熟悉舞台展现我们的歌声给大家听。法师们为大家开示后，我们进入第一个表演由马六甲武吉波浪佛学会青年组为大家呈现的《让爱传出去》手语表演。我还记得那时在去年最后一堂的佛学班录制，我转身为老师来教学他们呢。在影片播出当中，出现我们在实体佛学班的点滴，心里想：到底我们再有机会回去佛学会上实体课呢？

接下来就是一群可爱的小朋友为大家呈现《青春幼苗》的舞蹈表演，在线上卫塞节前夕倒数活动他们哦！而在每个表演后，屏幕会出现一系列的猜灯谜让在看着直播的观众有赢奖品的机会哦！另外，我们有话剧表演—— 《疫情下的无名英雄》提醒大家在这非常时期，时时刻刻要遵守防疫标准作业程序，以免病毒扩散。马六甲佛教联谊会青年组，为大家呈现《听我说谢谢你》手与表演。

在最后一场表演出场时，又有一题的灯谜让大家猜测，主持人—— 亿濠和学莉宣布下一组的表演者—— 马六甲唱享6度为大家呈现的翻唱作品—— 《我们的月亮一定圆》。当我看到自己出现在屏幕时，心理开心不已！以前我是在观众席位看他们唱歌，现在成了唱享6度的一份子，到我和歌手伙伴们一起唱歌！劭建和维根都把画面拍下来。续了表演，现在进行国庆日拍摄比赛线上颁奖典礼。

在播放马佛青的主题曲，线上之夜正式来到尾声！虽然中秋在9月21日已经过了，还是要祝大家中秋节快乐！愿合家团圆！疫情把我们分开，心中的团圆一定有在！

希望明年的佛青之夜，可以到熟悉的舞台见大家一面！大家好，我是马六甲唱享6度歌手的Katelyn陈袈文！错过直播的朋友，可以到马佛青甲州联委会的面子书专页或YouTube 频道观看哦！